Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Fwd: [New post] PORTRAIT OF A SOMBER OLD COUPLE

bmarshphd posted: "This photograph features an interesting looking older couple. The husband stands in the background with a sullen expression while the wife, appearing quite intense, stands in the forefront. One wonders if the positioning in this image reflects their respe"

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New post on THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This photograph features an interesting looking older couple. The husband stands in the background with a sullen expression while the wife, appearing quite intense, stands in the forefront. One wonders if the positioning in this image reflects their respective roles in their relationship. Written notations on the reverse of this photograph reveals that the subjects in the image are "Barclay and Sarah George". The photo is dated "1900". No photographer or location is indicated but research quickly discovered that this couple resided in Tonganoxie, Kansas at the time this photograph was produced. The 1900 Federal census revealed that Barclay was born in Indiana in 1839, making him 60 years old at the time of this photograph. He had one parent that was born in Virginia while the other hailed from North Carolina. Sarah George was born in 1846 in Indiana, making her 53 years old when this picture was taken. Her parents were native to North Carolina. The couple was married in 1863. The 1895 and Kansas census reported that the pair still lived in Tonganoxie on their farm and had two teenage children. The 1905 Kansas census also found them residing in Tonganoxie. Further research revealed that Barclay was a participant in the War Between the States. He served in the 13th Iowa Infantry (Company B). Sarah filed for Barclay's civil war pension in 1898 stating that he had become an "invalid". In 1923 she filed for his pension upon his death. She made the death claim while living in Texas. Barclay George (1839-1923) is buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Pampa, Texas. An interesting side note concerns the origin of the name of "Tonganoxie". "Tonganoxie" was the name of the chief of the Delaware tribe that occupied the area. The town was established in 1866.